One Piece’s Straw Hat pirate flag — a skull in a straw hat — has become a global Gen-Z symbol of freedom and defiance. First introduced in Eiichiro Oda’s 1997 manga, the flag in the series stands for Luffy’s fight against oppression and corrupt authority. Today, protesters worldwide are using it as a simple, universal symbol of rebellion and the demand for change. Here are glimpses of its appearance in global protests.

Mexico
In recent protests, Gen-Z protesters used the Straw Hat Pirates’ Jolly Roger to speak out against widespread drug-related violence — which claims tens of thousands of lives each year — and to criticise the security policies of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Nepal
In September this year, the flag was draped over the golden gates of the palace that houses Nepal’s Parliament, as young Gen-Z protesters rallied and ultimately helped topple their government.

Indonesia
Indonesia saw one of the earliest political uses of the One Piece flag in October 2023 during protests against the Gaza War. In August 2025, the flag became a symbol of domestic dissent — displayed outside homes, on motorbikes, cars, and trucks as a sign of growing frustration with the government.

Phillipines
In the Philippines, the flag was raised during the `Trillion Peso March,` where protesters took to the streets to denounce alleged corruption and the country’s `ghost projects` scandal in September.

Madagascar
During the September–October protests in Madagascar, Gen-Z protesters adopted the straw-hat skull symbol to express anger over the government’s failure to provide adequate water and electricity.